Individuals who are interested in earning an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate or a paramedic degree will soon have the opportunity to learn more about the educational programs available to them in the Branson and Hollister area.
The Ozarks Technical Community College Table Rock Campus will host three informational sessions about its new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs coming in 2019. The sessions will be held at the campus in room 306 on the following dates:
- Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2-3 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m. to noon
At the events, prospective students can meet face-to-face with instructors, ask questions about the programs, and learn how to navigate the college’s application and admissions process.
The Table Rock campus will offer EMT courses starting in January 2019. A paramedic program will begin the following fall. The college collaborated with several community partners including the Taney County Ambulance District (TCAD) to develop the programs’ curriculums and training.
“TCAD Paramedics is thrilled to have OTC’s EMS programs in our backyard. This simplifies the educational process for our personnel and offers them a valuable opportunity for advancement,” said TCAD Deputy Chief Jeff Hawkins. “We need more people attending quality programs that produce successful paramedics. OTC offers us this opportunity and we are delighted to partner with them.”
Joshua Freeman, OTC’s EMS director, says both EMT and paramedic jobs are expected to grow in the next decade.
“The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15 percent job growth for EMTs and paramedics by 2026,” said Freeman. “By offering the EMS programs at the Table Rock campus, the college continues to address the workforce needs of the region.”
The Emergency Medical Technician course is a 7-credit-hour course, which a student can complete in one semester. After a student earns the EMT certificate, he or she can go on to earn an associate degree to become a paramedic.
EMTs are typically experts in advanced first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Paramedics are trained to provide more advanced care, such as, administering intravenous fluids, airway management and resuscitation of patients suffering major medical issues.
For more information about OTC’s EMS programs at the Table Rock campus, contact Joshua Freeman, EMS program director, at (417) 447-8951 or email freemajo@otc.edu.
